Cessna 177 accident near Hardin, Montana, October 31, 1982
On October 31, 1982 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2824X, was destroyed in an accident near Hardin, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1982 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hardin, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2824X · no longer on the register · serial 177-00224
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FULLY SERVICED WITH FUEL (48 GAL USABLE SUPPLY) AND HAD BEEN FLOWN 1.8 HRS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT HAD RELIED ON HIS FUEL LOG AND FUEL GAUGES, AND DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY DURING THE PREFLIGHT. WHILE ON A GRADUAL DESCENT TOWARD THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. A CRASH LANDING WAS MADE IN PLOWED FIELD ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE AIRPORT. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AND LINES. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN .6 HRS ON THIS FLIGHT OR 2.4 HRS SINCE IT WAS REFUELED. AT 75% POWER, ABOUT 24 GAL WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSUMED. RED FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND ON THE INLET FUEL LINE AND ON THE FIRE WALL BELOW THE LINE. WITH THE COWLING ON, THE PILOT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE THE STAINS. THE FUEL LINE (PN S1236-8-0280) WAS REMOVED AND PRESSURE CHECKED AT 7 PSI. DURING THE CHECK, A SMALL STREAM OF FUEL ABOUT 1/16 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS NOTED. ALSO, FUEL THEFTS HAD BEEN REPORTED AT THE AIRPORT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,405 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hardin MT at 3:00 pm
- Destination: Hardin MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.